Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009
Paso Robles Councilman Fred Strong to run for Sam Blakeslee's Assembly seat
The mayor pro tem filed candidacy papers for the 33rd District post in Sacramento last week
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closePaso Robles City Councilman Fred Strong is the latest Republican to announce an intention to run for the 33rd Assembly District seat next year.
Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, will not be on the ballot because of term-limit rules.
Strong, 72, has been a councilman since December 2004 and now holds the mayor pro tem spot, a position that allows him to act has mayor in the absence of one. If he wins the Assembly race, he said, he would resign from the council.
Strong filed candidacy papers in Sacramento last week.
The former government lobbyist, lecturer and journalist said he’s “represented the people of California on major policy documents, legislation and initiatives since the mid-1970s,” and will have a special focus on increasing public knowledge of state happenings. “I stand for all the issues,” he said. “I concentrate on process.”
In the Republican primary, he would face San Luis Obispo Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Etta Waterfield and Nipomo financial planner Matt Kokkonen.
Santa Maria Councilwoman Hilda Zacarias, Lompoc construction worker and activist Robert Cuthbert, and Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals are running or considering seeking the Democratic nomination.
Strong is also the City Council liaison to the Paso Robles Main Street Association, North County Transit Policy Committee and Paso Robles Housing Authority. He is a representative of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and the Air Pollution Control Integrated Waste management Authority, among others.
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